Allrounder Anderson Cummins is best known for a match he didn't even play in. In South Africa's first Test back - in Barbados in 1992 - West Indies gave a debut to Kenny Benjamin, instead of the local boy Cummins. The match was boycotted as a result, and one banner - "No Cummins, no goings" - summed up the mood. Cummins, who later played for Durham, did eventually play five Tests. He did better in the one-day arena though, and his pyjama strike rate - a wicket every 40 balls - put him above the likes of Curtly Ambrose and Malcolm Marshall.

In 2006-07 he made a dramatic and unexpected return when he was drafted into the Canadian national side at the age of 40, 11 years since his last major outing. Unsurprisingly, he was a shadow of the player he had been, and in eight matches in Kenya he managed only five wickets at 48.60 with an economy rate of 6.39. The surprise of he recall was only exceeded by the amazement when, despite this poor return, he was included in the World Cup squad. But he turned in three distinctly average performances and there were few surprised when he announced his retirement at the end of the tournament. This time, there was no way back.
Martin Williamson April 2007

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